Staurophora brantii

Cells solitary, lying mostly in valve view, within a laminated mucilage capsule (Fig. 1). One lobed plastid with a large lenticular pyrenoid positioned against the girdle opposite the nucleus (Figs. 1, 2). Valves elliptic-lanceolate to rhombic-lanceolate, apices broadly rounded and somewhat protracted (Figs 5–10). Valve face curved in transapical section, merging gradually into the mantle (Figs 19, 20), mantle shallower near the ends (Fig. 20). Valve length 38–48 μm; valve width 9–12 μm. Raphe sternum narrow, somewhat thickened and slightly elevated at the central nodule (Fig. 20). Overlapping girdle elements bear longitudinal rows of small round poroids (Fig. 23). Raphe straight, filiform. External proximal raphe endings bordered by lips and lying in spathulate grooves (Figs 24, 25); terminal fissures strongly curved, opening toward the secondary side of the valve (Fig. 22). Internal proximal raphe endings bent in the same direction (Fig. 27); terminal fissures end in helictoglossae (Fig. 26). Axial area narrow, linear, widening slightly near the central area. Central area a transverse fascia, wider toward the margins and with a few shortened striae on one or both sides. Only the ends of the longest of these short striae are visible in valve view, making them appear to be more widely spaced than other striae (Fig. 20). Striae radiate and uniseriate, 18–24 in 10 μm (14 in 10 μm, initial valve, Fig. 10), but more concentrated toward the poles. Striae composed of small round areolae.

• Author
  Bahls 2012
• Length Range
  38-48 µm
• Width
  9-12 µm
• Striae in 10µm
  18-24 (14 initial valve)